Printing device index



Filed May 19, 1945 I 71 van 702.

Patented Nov. 6, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE- 2,388,315 i PRINTING DEVIGEINDEXn fiai-mon Elliott, Watertown', Mass; Application May 1-9, 1943, Serial No. 487,548 "sci aims". (01. 129-165) This invention relates to improvements in classified address bearing printing devices; More particularly, it relates to address bearing stencils of a generaltype suitable for usefn' addressing machines, and to indicating on each stencil at a =5 region which will be visible in a stack ofstencils lected. for: printing according to their classificae tions and those not in the selected class or classes are caused to pass idly through the printing position without a printing impression beinginade therefrom. Ordinarily the classifying nieanson each stencil consists of one or more perforations in the frame of the stencil located and adapted for coaction with one of more'selector pins or the like of the selector mechanism of the; ad-

dressing machine. 'Iheclas'sificati'on of the stericils may be; for example, according tb' classes of goods in which case hardware dealers might comprise one class, druggists another, electrical dealers another, and so on through several classes of goods.- Frequently an individual stencil is classifled in two or more classes and thus is provided with the appropriate perforation for each class 39 in which it is included. Hence, any' particular stencil may have one, two or several classifying perforations.

When the classifying perforations are'adjacent to an edge of the stencil, usually the top edge, and 35 are spaced inward from the edge they become hidden when a number of the stencils are stacked together such as in a tray container in which it may be convenient to hold a, quantity of stencils.

It is desirable at times to determine at least 40 approximately the number of stencils having a particular classification in a tray of stencils and without leafing over the stencils in the tray to observe the classification perforations and hence it is an object of the present invention to provide a printing device and particularly a stencil having one or more perforations, or other classifying means for coaction with the selector of an addressing machine, located inward of the top edge of the stencil frame and having means at said top edge and opposite each classifying perforation constituting a visual indicator of the class or'classes to which individual stencils of a group or stack of stencils belong. The indicator may be a mark showing on the top edge of the stencil opposite each classifying perforation therein but preferably is a notch cut in the top edge opposite 'each perforation which can be easily seen when several of my stencils are grouped. or stacked together as in a holding tray.

A further object of the iirverition is the provision of a; stencil or'equivalent address bearing printing device" having an edge thereof one or more identifying notches so arranged that the boundary of the notch is not liable to become frayed or deformed 'to" materially interfere with the stacking and feeding of the stencil during the useful life thereof.

It is, moreover, my purpose and object generally to improve printing devices'in the form" of stencils and means forclassifying them;

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig; 1 is a face view of a stencil having classifyirig perforations in its "frame and embodying the class indicating feature of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a cio'sssection'all view on the line 2-2 of Fi 1; i

Fig. 3 is anisonietrlo'showing of a nurnberbf stencils stacked together in a tray" and showing how the perforations eirc'eptin the foremost stenoil are entirely hidden from viw andillustrating the practicability and convenience of myclass indicating device'foi determining the number of stencils in any particular class; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail 'ofa'marginal part of a stencil, illustrating more" particularly the notched formation of a marginal" edge thereof.

Referring to the drawing-,a well known type y or steam suitable for'use iii addressing ma hines is indicated generally 'at lfl'having aframe l2 usually of stiff paper stock having four classification perforations I4, I 6, l8 and 20 adjacent to but entirely within the top edge of the frame. Each perforation indicates one class to which the particular stencil has been assigned so that the stencil of Fig. '1 having the four perforations has been assigned to four different classes. As best seen in Fig. 2, the particular stencil illustrated consists of three superimposed paper-stock frame pieces II, I3 and I5 of which the two outer ones II and I5 are of relatively thick paper stock and the mid one I3 preferably is thinner and stiffer constituting a welt element which projects a little inward beyond the inner edges of the two outer frame pieces. have their central portions open to provide a window and a thin sheet of stencil paper I! covers this central opening and is secured around its margin to the inwardly projecting portions of the All three of the frame pieces welt piece and is adapted to receive the address or other printing characters.

According to the present invention a mark or shallow notch is made at the top edge of the stencil directly opposite each classification perforation. In Fig. 1, the notch 2| constitutes a visual indicator for the class represented by the perforation l4 and notches 22, 23 and 24 are similar visual indicators for the classes represented by the perforations l 6, l8 andZlL: .A'ny particular stencil may; have one; two or any larger number of perforations representing classes to which the particular stencil has been assigned and there will be a mark or notch opposite each perforation so that when a number of the stencils are grouped or stacked together as in Fig. 3a mere glance along the top edges of the stencils will give a clear indication of the approximate number of stencils in any particular class.

The advantages and usefulness of the class in:- dicating device of the present invention will be obvious from an inspection of Fig. 3 which shows the stencils stacked in a tray and which shows the class indicating notches at the top edges of the stencils Where they can readily indicate the class or classes'to whichthe various stencils have been assigned without having to leaf over the stencils in the tray to inspect the individual selector of classifying perforations therein.

The notches 2|, 22, 23, 24 in the edge of the top part of the frame are so formed that they are not liable to become defaced during the useful life of the stencil and catch on a 'contiguous stencil in a stack of-such stencilsor preventfree passage thereof along the guide. track and through the addressing machine. For this purpose thenotches are shallow and also the outline thereof is arcuate as at I so'that the material between consecutive notches is not similarly weakened to become frayed or bent to an extent to hinder the proper movement of the stencils. Preferably also the depth of the notch is materially less than half the diameter of the punch 48 that forms the notch so that the angle between the top edge of the stencil and the wall of the notch is obtuse to provide a relatively gradual merging of the notch with the top edge of the stencilso that, possible damage t the connecting corner is negligible.

I claim as my invention:

1. A stencil having a frame; a classification perforation in said frame inset from an edge of the stencil and in position to be concealed from view by a contiguous stencil when a collection of such stencils is stacked with their broad faces contiguous, and a:mark at an edge of thestencil opposite saidperforation providing visualindication of the presence and position of said perf0ra tion when the stencil is in a collection of contiguous stencils having their similar edges exposed. 2. A collection of stencils arranged with their broad faces in substantial contact and with the broad face of one stencil concealed by the next overlying stencil, at least some of the stencils having class-indicating perforations in their broad .facesconcealed by overlying stencils, such perforated stencils at their similar visible marginal edges each having a mark opposite each of its said perforations for denoting visually the presence and location of the perforations.

'- 3. A stencil comprising a frame having a classifying selector perforation inset from an edge thereof for coaction with a stencil selector mechanism, and a visual indicator at said edge and opposite said selector perforation for indicating the presence and position of said selector perforation whenthe stencil is in a collection of stencils with its said selector perforation obscured and its said visual indicator exposed at said edge.

4. A stencil comprising a frame having a classifying selector perforation inset from an edge thereof for coaction with a stencil selector mechanism, and a visual indicator at said edge and opposite said selector perforation forindicating the presence and position of said selector perforation when the stencil is in a collection of stencils with its said selector perforation obscured and its said visual indicator exposed at said edge, said visual indicator being an arcuate shallow notch whose depth is materially less than the radius of 35 the arc of the notch.

5. A stencil comprising a frame having a classifying selector perforation positioned along an edge of the frame at a location determined by information carried on the stencil and set inward M from said edge for coaction with a stencil selector mechanism, and a shallow notch in said edge opposite said selector perforation and visible when the stencil is in a collectionof mutually overlying stencils wherein its said'selector perforation is obscured.

6. A collection of stencils assembled together with their broad facesin mutually overlying re-' lation, said stencils each having at least one classindicating perforation set inward from an edge for coaction with a stencil selector mechanism, and visual indicators at said edges of the collection of stencils and opposite the respective selector perforations therein for indicating in the assembly of stencils the presence and position of the hidden selector perforations.

- HARMON P. ELLIOTT.

a i CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,588,515. November 6, 19LL5.

HARMON P ELLIOTT; It is hereby certified that error appears in. the above numbered pa requiring correction as follows: In the drawing, Figure l; as shownbelow should appear as a cart of the patent he said Letters Pater 1t shoulglbe read with this correction thereand that t case in the Patent Office.

in that .the same may; conform tothe record 0f the Signed and sealed this 5th day of January, A. D. 19Lg6.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) First Assistant Commissioner of Patents. 

